Festival scares up family fun

Though they received top billing, scarecrows were but one small part of PenMet Park's third annual Scarecrow Festival that took place Saturday, Oct. 6 at Sehmel Homestead Park in Gig Harbor. The outfields of the two baseball fields were lined with vendor booths, pony rides, a petting zoo, children's games and a main stage that featured a variety of local acts while the space between the fields was lined with local food vendors. PenMet Executive Director Terry Lee, in his usual spot handing out programs and maps while greeting visitors, said last year they drew in more than 4,000 — and expected that the overflow crowd on Saturday would easily top that total, as the warm fall day drew in families from all around to celebrate the changing season.